Ecommerce sellers regularly face a workflow question with technical stakes beyond "make it look better": should I upscale this product photo, or should I enhance it? The distinction matters because the two operations solve different problems and carry different QA risks.
Upscaling increases pixel dimensions. Adobe Super Resolution doubles linear dimensions (4x pixel count). A conventional resize interpolates; an AI upscaler generates more convincing edges but can also hallucinate label characters or surface texture.
Enhancement changes visible qualities without changing resolution: denoising, white-balance correction, exposure, local contrast, deblurring, sharpening. Adobe separates Raw Details (improves detail at current resolution) from Super Resolution (changes dimensions) — a useful distinction even when other tools merge both behind one button.
The operational challenge is images that need both. A small, noisy supplier photo can't just be fed into an upscaler. Here's the processing order I've settled on after testing:
The order is less important than two hard rules: never upscale a derivative file (start from the largest original), and keep the untouched original beside every processed version so reviewers can detect invented detail.
Output Checks by Marketplace
Google Merchant Center recommends product images around 1500x1500px or larger and will enforce a 500x500 minimum on January 31, 2027, with warnings starting July 2026. Amazon prefers images above 1000px on each side to support zoom. These are output checks — they don't grant permission to fabricate detail from a source that can't support the size.
QA at Three Viewing Distances
100% zoom: Compare label characters, measurement marks, seams, texture, and color against the original. Thumbnail/mobile: The product must occupy 75-90% of the frame for Shopping images. Variant comparison: Enhancement settings that work on white packaging can shift color or erase texture differences between matte and gloss.
Full decision table and per-channel size requirements: https://loomadesign.ai/en/blog/upscale-vs-enhance-product-photos
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